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BEST'S CREDIT RATING ACTION

Best’s News & Research Service - October 01, 2021 10:54 AM (EDT)

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Seguros Universales, S.A.

  • October 01, 2021 10:54 AM (EDT)
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Mexico City //BestWire// - AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb-” (Good) of Seguros Universales, S.A. (Universales) (Guatemala). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Universales’ balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

The stable outlooks reflect AM Best’s expectation that the company will maintain a stable capital base as the dynamics in the insurance market in Guatemala evolve after a gradual return to normalcy from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Universales, which was established in 1962, is the sixth-largest insurer in Guatemala, with a market share of 8%. Its portfolio as of August 2021 is composed mainly of non-life products (78%), with the remainder (22%) directed to life insurance market. The company holds very competitive positions in the property/casualty (P/C) and accident and health segments, ranked No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. The company is owned privately by a group of 10 shareholders, none with a stake larger than 23%.

AM Best views Universales’ business profile as neutral, based on the company’s market position and its ability to develop niche markets through commercial alliances, distribution channels and development of new offerings. AM Best’s stable market segment outlook on Guatemala’s insurance industry recognizes that growth prospects have become limited due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that macroeconomic fundamentals provide stability to the system to mitigate the potential impact on claims and financial investments derived from the crisis. In addition, the company’s digitalization and ERM efforts are allowing the company to navigate the ongoing economic cycle successfully.

AM Best assesses Universales’ balance sheet strength as very strong, due to the availability and quality of the capital, reinsurance protection and conservative risk profile. The company’s consistent profitable results are reflected in a growing capital base with a conservative risk profile and well-structured dividend payments. The company has set a reinsurance program based on a mixture of treaty and facultative programs with highly rated reinsurers, which historically have been effective in protecting the company’s balance sheet.

AM Best views Universales’ operating performance as marginal due to its dependency on other technical income and investment results to post positive bottom-line results, as its combined ratio has been consistently above 100. In 2020, the company adjusted its offerings in terms of price and coverages, which helped it to improve its loss ratio; however, administrative expenses continue to limit its performance. During 2021, Universales’ net result continue to perform similarly to year-end 2020; nevertheless, the company has won the tender for important policies in the Guatemalan market that could help operating performance in the medium term.

Positive rating actions could take place if there is a stabilization of Universales’ balance sheet strength and if operating performance improves in a consistent and sustained way in the medium term. Negative rating actions could take place if the company’s capital base deteriorates as a consequence of an unsuccessful strategy affecting results and the undertaking of risks.

The methodology used in determining these ratings is Best’s Credit Rating Methodology (Version Nov. 13, 2020), which provides a comprehensive explanation of AM Best’s rating process and contains the different rating criteria employed in the rating process. Best’s Credit Rating Methodology can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology .

Key insurance criteria reports utilized:


  • Evaluating Country Risk (Version Oct. 13, 2017)

  • Understanding Global BCAR (Version July 22, 2021)

  • Catastrophe Analysis in AM Best Ratings (Version Oct. 13, 2017)

  • Available Capital & Holding Company Analysis (Version Oct. 13, 2017)

  • Scoring and Assessing Innovation (Version March 5, 2020)

View a general description of the policies and procedures used to determine credit ratings. For information on the meaning of ratings, structure, voting and the committee process for determining the ratings and monitoring activities, please refer to Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings.


  • Previous Rating Date: Oct. 2, 2020.

  • Date Range of Financial Data Used: Dec. 31, 2014-July 30, 2021

This press release relates to rating(s) that have been published on AM Best’s website. For additional rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page.

AM Best does not validate or certify the information provided by the client in order to issue a credit rating.

While the information obtained from the material source(s) is believed to be reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed. AM Best does not audit the company’s financial records or statements, or otherwise independently verify the accuracy and reliability of the information; therefore, AM Best cannot attest as to the accuracy of the information provided.

AM Best’s credit ratings are independent and objective opinions, not statements of fact. AM Best is not an Investment Advisor, does not offer investment advice of any kind, nor does the company or its Ratings Analysts offer any form of structuring or financial advice. AM Best’s credit opinions are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities, or to make any other investment decisions. View our entire notice for complete details.

AM Best receives compensation for interactive rating services provided to organizations that it rates. AM Best may also receive compensation from rated entities for non-rating related services or products offered by AM Best. AM Best does not offer consulting or advisory services. For more information regarding AM Best’s rating process, including handling of confidential (non-public) information, independence, and avoidance of conflicts of interest, please read the AM Best Code of Conduct. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City.



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